Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!sundc!sun!pepper!cmcmanis
From: cmcmanis%pepper@Sun.COM (Chuck McManis)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Request for Compiler Info
Message-ID: <31235@sun.uucp>
Date: Mon, 19-Oct-87 14:09:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: sun.31235
Posted: Mon Oct 19 14:09:52 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Oct-87 20:47:47 EDT
References: <4443@zen.berkeley.edu>
Sender: news@sun.uucp
Reply-To: cmcmanis@sun.UUCP (Chuck McManis)
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mountain View
Lines: 67

In article <4443@zen.berkeley.edu> (Jonathan Dubman) writes:
>Having gained little from the objective reviews ("Both are good systems...")
>I am interested in religious statements from any owners of MANX and Lattice,
>especially from those who have seen Lattice 4.0 in action.  Unless the flame
>is low, please mail such statements PRIVATELY. 

[Minimal flamage here, just the facts ]

I own Lattice, (thats what I started with), have nothing but hearsay to report
on 4.0 although they should get my Update card today so I expect my copy RSN.

The bottom line : 

    Manx is an excellent compiler for those who know C really well.

    Lattice is an excellent compiler for those who tend to make typos or
    don't know C as well, by virtue of its extensive diagnostics. If you
    make the statement "If I had wanted to Lint my program, I would have 
    run Lint!" then you probably want Manx.

>	-Does Manx really use a different object file format?  Are there any
>	 provisions for going back and forth between standard and Manx formats?

  They did last time I checked but they could link with standard Amiga .o's
anyway.

>	-What are the respective upgrade policies?  Since Manx uses different
>	 include files, how soon after the release of 1.3 can I expect the
>	 new includes and libraries?

Upgrade to 4.0 Lattice from 3.03 is $75, from 3.10 $45. It arrives nearly
exactly 1 yr after the 3.10 upgrade. Brand spanking new (developers version)
goes for $225.

>	-What are the classes of source code incompatibility?

>	-Size of code? Speed of compilation? 
Manx wins.
>	 Provisions for LARGE programs?

Lattice has never had a problem here, don't know about Manx. Be sure to
reassign the QUAD: file to a a real disk if you need the memeory. (it 
defaults to RAM:)

>	 (i.e. Make utility included, etc.)

Manx comes with make, Lattice doesn't. I use the one on one of the
Fish disks. 

>  	Scatter-loading?  Overlays?

As far as I know only Lattice does these, and on Overlays only in 4.0.

>	 Assembler included?  68010/68020/68881 provisions in compiler and
>	 assembler?

Yes on both counts. In 4.0 Lattice claims to have a totally compatible 
Assembler (can use the C/A .i files). 

>	-How about the documentation?  (Great flame category.)

Both do really well here. 


--Chuck McManis
uucp: {anywhere}!sun!cmcmanis   BIX: cmcmanis  ARPAnet: cmcmanis@sun.com
These opinions are my own and no one elses, but you knew that didn't you.